School Ministries

Three people have recently been appointed to the Board of School Ministries (SMI). Collectively they bring to the Board decades of experience from the worlds of business and Christian education as well as wide experience in building and offering Released Time Bible Education programs. School Ministries Board Chairman, James F. O'Bryon said, "It is with pleasure that we welcome these people to our Board as they bring with them a dedication to and expertise that will strengthen our efforts to grow into a truly national organization."

Executive Team

James F. O’Bryon, Chairman

Mr. O’Bryon is a consultant on national defense and security for clients in the private sector and the U.S. government. He has more than 25 years of leadership experience and has served under seven Secretaries of Defense. Born in Schenectady, NY, Mr. O’Bryon graduated from Emmaus Bible Institute, received an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from The King’s College and graduate degrees from George Washington University and MIT. Mr. O’Bryon has an active concert ministry with 4 albums as well as an active speaking schedule throughout the nation. He is also a former radio newscaster as well as an author of' "I Fail To Miss Your Point," published recently. Currently he is President of The O’Bryon Group. He resides in Bel Air, MD with his wife Adina and they have four married children.

Kenneth A. Breivik, Executive Director

Mr. Breivik is a businessman and current Executive Director for School Ministries. He has extensive knowledge in public relations and specializes in professional communications services to ministries and non-profits. He currently is the President of Nehemiah Communications. He is a former Southeast Regional Director of Charles Colson’s Prison Fellowship Ministries. Previously he served as the Director of Carolinas for Justice Fellowship after serving three years as a nationally awarded State Director. Mr. Breivik has extensive experience working with government appointed task forces to promote basic pro-Christian values. He resides in Columbia, SC with his wife Penni and has two sons, Luke and Matthew.

David M. Beasley, Board of Directors

Governor Beasley served as Governor of South Carolina from 1995-1999. Earlier he served as member of the SC House from 1979-1993. During his term as Governor, he led delegations on economic development and trade missions throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Following his term as Governor, he served as a fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. In 2003 Governor Beasley received the prestigious John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his stand on removing the Confederate Flag from atop the SC capitol. In 2005 he partnered with his former Chief Legal Counsel, Henry L. Deneen, to incorporate the Center for Global Strategies, Ltd. The Center focuses on developmental initiatives in the non-integrated world. Currently, he serves as its Chairman of the Board. He resides in Society Hill, SC, with his wife Mary. They have four children.

Avery Hilton, Board of Directors

Mr. Hilton recently retired after working 43 years in the steel industry. His most recent position was Executive Vice President of Steel Mills for Commercial Metals Company. Avery is an engineering graduate from North Carolina State University. He served as President of the Electric Metal Makers Guild and as a trustee of the Association of Iron and Steel Technology Foundation. Mr. Hilton also served on the board of directors of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Midlands Christian Learning Center. He is an elder on the session of Northeast Presbyterian Church and is an associate member of Fairfield Mountains Chapel in Lake Lure, NC. He and his wife Lorraine reside in Columbia, SC. They have two sons and a daughter as well as three grandchildren.

S. Hunter Howard, Jr. , Board of Directors

After managing his own CPA firm, Mr. Howard served as a member in the SC House from 1974 to 1982, was appointed Chairman of the SC Tax Commission by two governors, and served as President and CEO of the SC Chamber of Commerce. He joined Scott McElveen CPAs in 2008 as their Corporate Advisory Partner. Mr. Howard has received numerous awards including the Order of the Palmetto and the Outstanding CPA in Business & Industry Award from the SC Association of CPAs. He served as chair of the national Council of State Chambers and currently serves on a number of boards and councils including the SC Commission on Higher Education Business Advisory Council, the US Chamber Accreditation Board, the Clemson University ICAR Economic Development Advisory Council, and the S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations. He resides in Simpsonville, SC, with his wife Martha. They have four married children and four grandchildren.

Laura Hucks, Board of Directors

Laura Hucks was introduced to School Ministries in 1999 and established Horry County's first released-time class which began in 2001. It grew and eventually was renamed Coastal School Ministries. Over the last nine years, Ms. Hucks has passionately worn every released-time ministry "hat"-from founder and board member to bus driver and teacher. For four years, she has taught the high-school level for-credit released-time class. Ms. Hucks is actively involved in ongoing discipleship opportunities where she is a participant as well as a teacher in her home church, Palmetto Shores. She has a love of God's Word and a passion for bringing the hope of Christ to teens that makes her a natural fit for released-time ministry. She graduated Cum Laude from Miami University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Education Degree in Special Education. She moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 1991. After eight years of teaching special education in Horry County public schools, Laura resigned to stay at home with her own children.

Thomas J. Schetelich, Board of Directors

Mr. Thomas J. Schetelich is one of the founding principals of Ferguson, Schetelich, & Ballew, PA. He heads both the firm’s corporate and business law practice and its personal legal services department. He concentrates his work in fields of business planning, business litigation, tax planning and trusts and estates. Mr. Schetelich devotes much of his practice to assisting charitable and religious organizations. He represents many churches throughout Maryland. He is active in many Christian ministries in the greater Baltimore area. He has served as the commentator on Religion and the Law, a weekly radio feature. He serves on the Board of Directors for The Baltimore School of the Bible (where he has been an instructor for over 15 years), for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, for the Christian Professional Network, for the Baltimore Fellowship Foundation, and for Loizeaux Brothers Publications. He is an author of Maryland Law of Religious Corporations. In 1992, Mr. Schetelich was honored by Mayor Kurt Schmoke for outstanding citizenship in dedication and commitment to the citizens of Baltimore.

Dr. Glen Schultz, Board of Directors

Dr. Glen Schultz has been involved in education for the past 40 years. He currently serves as an Associate Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and Headmaster of Sherwood Christian Academy. Prior to coming to Sherwood in 2005, he served as a public school chemistry teacher, a Christian school science teacher, high school principal and superintendent. He also served as the Southeast Director for the Association of Christian Schools International and as director of Christian school resources at LifeWay Christian Resources. He is the author of the booklet A Parent’s Greatest Joy and the book Kingdom Education: God’s Plan for Educating Future Generations. He is married with three children and six grandchildren. His children attended biblically-based schools from kindergarten four-years old through college. His grandchildren are also being educated through biblically-based programs.

Dr. James Swezey, Board of Directors

Dr. James Swezey is on the faculty at Regent University in Virginia where among his duties he teaches courses on philosophy of education, biblical integration, leadership, and apologetics. He received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from George Fox University. Over the past 20 years he also served as a pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a high school Bible and history teacher, and a Christian school administrator. He has served on several accreditation teams, conducting program evaluations, for the Association of Christian Schools International. He is a regular presenter at leading education research conferences and regularly publishes articles related to K-12 and higher education in peer-reviewed journals. He is married to Jolene and has three teenage children